Mining magnate Clive Palmer has been granted an urgent court injunction to freeze funds after claiming lawyer Sam Iskander misappropriated up to $30 million from his business empire.
Barrister Brian O’Donnell KC, acting for Mr Palmer’s company Mineralogy, told Brisbane Supreme Court Justice Melanie Hindman on Friday that she should freeze multiple accounts linked to Mr Iskander, including a solicitor’s trust account.
“There’s a misapplication of funds in trust,” Mr O’Donnell said, adding that Mineralogy could trace the money through to Mr Isklander’s real estate investments.
In granting the injunction, Justice Hindman said Mineralogy had made serious allegations of fraud that could easily amount to tens of millions of dollars.
“It seems that there has been some sophisticated altering of the invoices … some sort of doctoring involved,” Justice Hindman said.
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Mr Iskander’s solicitor, John Sneddon, consented to an amended injunction but did not further respond in court to Mr Palmer’s allegations.
Mr Iskander is the principal at the firm Alexander Law, which has offices in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.
He has previously represented Mr Palmer in the voluntary administration of his nickel refinery and failed High Court bid to re-register the United Australia Party before the last federal election.
Mr Iskander also worked on Mr Palmer’s appeal against a $1.5 million copyright infringement lawsuit over his use of the Twisted Sister song We’re Not Gonna Take It in political advertising.
Justice Hindman said she had looked at multiple examples of the allegedly doctored invoices, some dated as recently as March 2025.
“The original invoice has been identified as being charged a daily fee of $7500 whereas on the amended invoice … the amount, which has apparently been paid by (Mineralogy), is $20,625,” she said.
“So a very significant difference in just one item in one account.”
Justice Hindman said it was even more disturbing that Mr Palmer’s companies were allegedly billed for hours of legal work that were initially described as free.
“Based on information to date showing the fraud might be at least over $20 million and that’s only on a sample selection of the invoices involved,” Justice Hindman said
“The estimate of $30 million, in my view, is not unreasonable.”
The injunction also sought to limit what assets Mr Iskander could use for living and legal expenses.
“It’s a restraint on the properties which (Clive Palmer’s companies) are investigating whether they were acquired by misappropriated money,” Mr O’Donnell said.
“They should not be used by (Mr Iskander) for living expenses.”
Mr Palmer’s Coolum Resort, Queensland Nickel and Waratah Coal businesses were also named as applicants for the injunction against Mr Iskander and several related entities.
Mineralogy and Mr Palmer’s other companies are also seeking for the Bank of Queensland and Commonwealth Bank to provide information.
The injunction was listed for a review in Brisbane Supreme Court on August 22.
